A fantastic continuation to a series dedicated to highlighting a long forgotten time period and its people. Pike shed light on a forgotten queen and the multiple legends surrounding her family. It was a time infused with violence, corruption, and fantastical beliefs. It's a hefty read and at times it felt every bit the length. Overall a wonderfully immersive look inside a time and place we will never fully appreciate.

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.

I am such a fan of Signe Pike. She does an amazing job at capturing a marvelous story, including real elements and fictionalized elements. The story is excellent. The characters are well developed. The last 10 chapters or so I could not stop and just had to keep reading because of the tension and the excitement just felt so much. I cannot wait for the third of this book series. Definitely one of the great historical fiction writers in my opinion.

YES to all things King Arthur. YES to Signe Pike. YES to Languoreth. YES to this book.

Book 2 does not disappoint, as someone who loved Book 1, The Lost Queen, I was so thrilled to be transported back into 6th-century Scotland. Signe Pike's narration and research make this novel shine.
Seeing the names Gwenddolau and Myrddin brings the whole book to a new level bringing forth the research the author has done, and the nostalgia that the stories we grew up with knowing.
I loved seeing Angharad's story as a young woman growing up. Languoreths grief is done in a way that will touch the hearts of readers, and Lailoken's magic gives this book the fantasy elements that we so often associate with King Arthur's story.

I want to thank the writer for giving us Languoreth. A woman whose story does not end with marriage and childbirth, but rather it is PART of her story, and her story continues, her adventures continue. This book fills the gap that so many fantasy novels have left us with, this is a story of a MOTHER.

Would I recommend? Yes, I recommend this book all the time
Would I reread? Yes, I will reread before Book 3 comes out!

Arthurian historical fiction ✔️
Strong female protagonists ✔️
Well-researched historical tie-ins ✔️
Timeline appropriate Celtic mysticism ✔️

Pure perfection. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m always on the hunt for a good Arthurian novel. Bonus points if it’s a series! Finding an adult book with the above 4 criteria is nearly impossible. The Mists of Avalon is the only other book that can easily meet these requests. But MoA is written for a very specific audience and comes with a lot of author baggage. Whereas Signe Pike’s Lost Queen series is universally written in a way that anyone can enjoy, all without quelling the female leads - a balance that other authors in this genre fail to achieve.

Book 3 cannot come soon enough! ❤️

This is the 2nd book in the lost queen books. This book is full of magic, history, battles, rivalry, and intrigue. It kept me up readingbfor hours. So good!!
I just reviewed The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Although a very well-written sequel to "The Lost Queen," I just didn't find myself as enthralled with this book as I did with the first one of the trilogy. I had looked forward to seeing what would happen with all the characters from the first novel but found myself struggling to continue to care about them through their journeys. I probably will still read the final book just to see how the trilogy wraps up. I hope I can connect with that one a little better.

I really love this series—the research that went into it is so interesting and perfectly woven into the background of fiction. I can’t wait for the third book!

Signe Pike's well researched novel of twins, Languoreth, future Queen of Scotland and her brother Lailoken, future Merlin of Arthurian legend, is a deeply satisfying read as the second book in The Lost Queen Trilogy. A page turner that I read in a record 2 days. If you loved Mary Stewarts's Merlin and King Arthur books or Marion Bradley Zimmer's "Mists of Avalon", I guarantee you will love this. Looking forward to the final book that is due out in September 2023.

I tried the first book and unfortunately it did not work for me. Therefore I did not try this one as it is a sequel.

This series is a masterclass in merging history and legend. In the first book, “The Lost Queen”, the characters and setting were well introduced. In this second installment, the action of battle and its consequences drives the plot. War is being waged
between the old ways and the new. Some warriors rise as others fall. While Myrddin is on the retreat, he meets Artur and the stage is set for the final book in this trilogy. I can’t wait!!
*Thanks to Atria books and NetGalley for this ebook copy for review.

So good, even as a standalone novel! (Details below)

I’ll be honest, I’m not sure how to go about this review. I was pretty far into the novel when I realized it was book two of a series. However, I was too invested as it was, so I kept on reading! The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike is a completely captivating read, even if you haven’t read the first book in Pike’s The Lost Queen series.

Signe Pike’s writing style is easy to follow, flowing and natural to read. Each chapter starts with a character’s name, so you are oriented as the story jumps around both geographically and, sometimes, temporally.

What I found most fascinating, though, was the author’s insights at the end of the novel. Pike discusses the historical events described in the novel, along with things she changed and other literary choices she made along the way. She also describes the historical figures present in the novel, many of whom grew into the Arthurian legend we know today. Really, just a fascinating way to top off an already great book!

Read my full review of the novel here: https://catsandcoffee.me/the-forgotten-kingdom-by-signe-pike/

This was a strong follow-up to The Lost Queen and I’m definitely going to keep my eye out for the final book in this trilogy.

While The Lost Queen focused on Languoreth’s POV, The Forgotten Kingdom adds two more perspectives: her brother Lailoken (the future Merlin) and her daughter Angharad. I’ll admit that I was less interested in Lailoken’s chapters than in the two women; I appreciated his inclusion but it seemed to distract from Pike’s original goal in the first book of resurrecting a lost queen from the depths of history. That said, I really enjoyed Angharad’s journey and this comparison between that and Langoureth’s path in the first book.

The writing here is strong though the jumps in time sometimes caught me off-guard. The chapters are mostly marked with dates, but I would sometimes forget what the last date was and be a bit confused where we were in time. That’s more on me, though, than the book itself I think.

Like with the first book, I really appreciated the author’s note at the end for how it unpacks the historical context of this story. You can tell that Pike has done her research, which cannot always be said of historical fiction. She also explains where she took liberties with the story, which was interesting.

Overall, this is an interesting book that explores a little-covered period in historical fiction. If you like the genre, or are interested in the history of Merlin or Scotland, this is definitely one to check out.

I was so excited to continue reading the adventures of Languoreth and her family/friends. This story is such a sweeping and epic story, yet Pike really draws you in with her characters and plot. Pike's writing is so beautiful, and I can't wait to see what happens in the final part.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had an amazing plot, but I felt the characters were a bit hard to connect to.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

After searching for books similar to Outlander, I found The Lost Queen trilogy by Signe Pike. Set in Scotland in the 500s, this second book of the series begins with Languoreth awaiting news of her husband, her brother, and her children. There’s magic and battles and the beginning of Christianity in the country.
I have loved the first two books, and can’t wait for the third.

The Forgotten Kingdom is the sequel to The Lost Queen. Languoreth is a prisoner in her own council as she awaits the news of her husband who is fighting against her brother and first love. Eventually, her husband returns and becomes king. As queen, can Languoreth find a way to bring peace between the Old Religion and the New? As Languoreth learns the ropes of queenship, she discovers that there is a personal cost.

Languoreth is the sole narrator in The Lost Queen. However, her story is barely focused upon because the story also focuses on her brother, Lailoken and her daughter, Angharad. She sits on the sidelines throughout the novel, which I was a little disappointed in. Still, this novel shows Languoreth as a grieving mother who yearns for her lost children. There are also some glimpses of her striving to be a good queen and leader. Still, I wish that there was more to Languoreth’s journey than what was offered in this novel. I loved Angharad’s story as she grows from a child to a confident priestess. She is the true hero of this story. I found Lailoken’s story to be my least favorite and unnecessary. You could skip his chapters and not miss out on anything in the story.

Overall, this novel is about war, religion, and choices. The characters seemed to be very complex. The setting seemed very realistic and made medieval Scotland come to life. The Forgotten Kingdom was beautifully written and made me feel like I was walking alongside the characters. I also thought the ending seemed rushed. Still, I can’t wait to read the final book in the trilogy. I want to see what the next book has in store for these characters! I recommend this novel for fans of Queen of Oak, The Mists of Avalon, and The Raven Queen!

This beautiful story is one that has stuck with me since I read it. I’m absolutely obsessed and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

I loved this sequel to The Lost Queen. The writing is beautifully lush and descriptive. The characters are complex. And the storyline is fascinating. I could not put it down.

This title was not for me. Although the writing and story are great, I just couldn't seem to stay interested in it. It was easy for me to put down and forget about.

This is the second book in the Lost Queen trilogy and the story keeps getting better.
In this novel we follow the story of Myrddin, the character we now know as Merlin, and his firsts encounters with young Artur. Reading Pike’s work is a magical experience, this book is beautiful, thrilling and fascinating. The best series I’ve read in a long time.
If you like Historical Fiction and epic sagas this is a must read.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Singe Pike for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.